Combination casing head



July 1, 1930. c. E. HOPKINS COMBINATION CAS ING HEAD Filed April 7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l guvENToR ATTORNEY y 1930. c. E. HOPKINS 1,768,908

COMBINATION CAS ING HEAD Filed April 7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented July 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CLYDE E. HOPKINS OF COMBINATION Application filed April 7,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in combination casing heads. The principal object of the inventlon s to provide a casing head in which maybe ,5 combined a casing spider, a gas fipacking clamp, and casing or anchor clamps, whereby a string of casing may be securely held while hanging in the well and the gas or oil flowing between two strings of casing may be conveyed to suitable pipes without wastage; and also whereby one or a number of strin s of easing may be securely held in their re ative positions regardless of pressure and anchored in place.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a combination head in WhlCll the parts will be intimately associated and conveniently, efliciently and simply arranged.

An important object of the invention 1s to .0 provide a head for supporting an inner casing and an outer casing and whereby the inner casing may be raised or lowered for the pur ose of drilling through the inner casing, tlius penetrating an upper producing sand without disturbing the flow of 011 and gas from such upper producing sand.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understoodfrom a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention and being illustrated partly in elevation and partly in section,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of said device,

Fig. 3 is a detail showing the packing connection for mounting the head on a casing collar, and

Fig. 4 is a outlets. 7

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates one member or section of the head and 11 the other or complementary member'or section of the head. The head is made in two sections or parts so that it may be installed or removed with the inner casing suspended detail showing one of the fluid SEMINOLE, OKLAHOMA CASING HEAD 1927. Serial No. 181,741.

in the derrick and well, thus avoiding the necessity of placing the head in position and then running the inner casing therethroagh.

Each section includes a semi-circular upwardly tapered body portion 12 having ontwardly directed wings 13 on opposite sides, each provided with an overhanging lug 14. Each body portion is formed with a vertical central bore 15 terminating at its upper end in an annular shoulder 16 at the bottom of an enlarged counter bore 17. An upwardly and outwardly tapered socket 18 extends from the counter bore to the top of the section.

The wings and lugs are provided with a plurality of bolt holes 19 through which bolts 20 are passed for securing the sections together. In order to prevent leakage packing gaskets 21 are secured between the wings and lugs and are not only cut to con form to the outer margins thereof, but also to conform to the parts 15 to 18 inclusive. The bolts 20, of course, penetrate the gaskets which are compressed between the sections and provide fluid-tight joints. In the lower edge of each body portion 12 is formed a semi-circular groove 22 of such size as to receive a continuous packing ring 23 looped over the upper edge of the collar A, which is mounted on the upper end of the outer casing 13, as shown in detail in Fig. 3. Set screws 2-1 are employed to hold the head on the collar while the head is being installed or removed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that. the head when assembled, comprises a central body having wings and lugs projecting dia metrically on opposite sides thereof forming 'arms whereby the head may be handled in any suitable manner. It is obvious that elevator links may be engaged under the lugs 14 to lift the head or suitable fastening devices may be engaged over said lugs to hold the head against upward movement. By removing the bolts 20 the sections may be dis connected and the head removed. as is ob- 95 vious. I

An inner casing C of less diameter than the bore 15 is suspended in the head and hangs in the outer casing ll. 0n the shoulder 16 a clamp ring 25 is supported. A packing ring 26 rests upon the ring 25 and an upper clamping ring 27' is carrled by the ring 26. The ring 26 is of such size as to contact with the inner casing C or to provide a small clearance there-between, while the rings 25 and 27 have larger inner diameters so as not to contact with said inner casing.

In the upper tapered sockets 18 segmental slips 28 are mounted. These slips have their back walls 29 conforming to the taper of the sockets, while their front walls are substantially perpendicular and have teeth'30. The teeth 30 bite into the inner casing C whereby the slips are pulled downward in the sockets and thus clamp said casing, whereby it is suspended. The slips and component parts constitute the spider.

Each slip is provided with a vertical bore 31 for receiving an elongated bolt 32 having its lower portion threaded in the lower end of the bore at 33. Each bolt has its lower end rounded and bearing upon the ring 27, so that when the slips are pulled downward by the casing the weight will be sustained partially by the bolts 32, which, bearingupon the ring 27, will compress the packing ring 26 thus forming a fluid-tight Joint around the inner casing C at the upper end of the bore 15. I

Each bore 15 is provided with a sump 34 and the body portion has a boss 35 provided with a threaded port 36, as is best shown in Fig. 4. The bore 15 is open to the space between the outer casing B and the inner casing C, so that oil or gas rising between the casings may freely pass through the port 36' to which a suitable conducting pipe may be attached. The packing at the top of the bore 15 prevents leakage, as will be seen.

When it is desired to raise or lower the inner casing C, it is only necessary to remove the slips 28 and the rings 25, 26 and 27. These rings may be made 1n sections so as to be easily removed. After the inner casing has been raised or lowered to the desired point, the rings and slips are replaced, the slips set and the bolts 32 tightened down to again expand the ring 26. When the outer casing B is set on an upper producing strata of oiland gas sand, it will be seen that the inner casing C may be lowered and a drill stem may be run down through the inner casing and the well drilled deeper without disturbing the flow of fluid from the upper strata, which fluid will pass upward between the casings. By means of turn buckles or wire lines (not shown) engaged over the lugs 14, the head may be securely anchored to the derrick floor sills or the two strings of casing may be clamped together.

Various changes in the size and shape of the different parts, as well as modifications and alterations, may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim, is:

1. In a casing head, a body having a socket and a central bore, arms extending from opposite sides of the body, a casing packing at the lower end of the socket of the body, slips mounted in the socket of said body, and means carried by the slips for compressing the packing.

2. In a casing head, a body having a socket and a central bore, means extending from opposite sides of the body, a casing packing at the lower end of the socket of the body, slips mounted in the socket of said body, and bolts extending through the slips and engaging the packing for compressing the same, said bolts having their heads exposed at the top of theslips for adjustment.

' 3. In a casing head, a body having an upright central bore and a taper socket, an annular packing shoulder in the body separating the bore and the socket, packing rings supported on the shoulder, arms extending from opposite sides of the body, slips mounted in the socket of the body, and bolts threaded through the slips and engaging the packing rings.

4. The combination with an inner casing and an outer casing, of a casing head split diametrically for assembly on the casing and comprising a body mounted on the outer casing and having a socket at its upper portion, the inner casing extending through the head, slips in the socket of the head enga ing and suspending the inner casing, a packing in the head below the socket embracing the inner casing, the head havin fluid outlet ports below the packing for discharging fluid rising between the casings, and means carried by the slips for compressing said packing.

5. In a casing head, a pair of sections, each having a body portion provided with a bore and a slip socket above the bore, extensions on each side of the body, packing gaskets between said extensions, slips mounted in the socket-s of the body portions, packing rings mounted in the body portions between the bore and the sockets for embracing an inner casing, and means carried by the slips for enga ing and compressing the packing rings.

6. n a casing head, a pair of sections each having a body portion provided with a central bore and a tapered slip socket separated by an annular packing shoulder, wings extending from opposite sides of the body portions, overhanging lugs extending from the wings, packing gaskets between the wings and lugs of the sections, means for holding the sections together, segmental slips in the sockets of the body portions, and bolts threaded in the slips and bearing on the packing rings.

7. In a casing head, a body having a central bore with a socket at its uper portion and a supporting seat at its base surrounding said bore to receive the end of an outer c asing, an inner casing packing at the lower portion of said socket, and slips mounted in the socket above said packing and carrying means for compressing the packing.

8. In a casing head, a body having a sock et and a central bore, a casing packing at the lower portion of said socket slips mounted in the socket above said packing, and means carried by the slips for compressing the packmg.

In testimony whereof I aflix m signature.

CLYDE E. H PKINS. 

